Security personnel inspect a vehicle during intensified checking following the Anantnag terror attack, in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, July 23, 2026.
\| Photo Credit: PTI

Security forces on Thursday (July 23, 2026) allegedly blasted and demolished two residential houses of local terrorists in south Kashmir, a day after a policeman was shot dead in a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag. Meanwhile, J\&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said mass arrests and demolitions “will not restore peace” and such demolitions go against the directions put in place by Supreme Court.

Official sources said an operation was launched around 3 a.m. when multiple teams reached Anantnag’s Guri village and Hassanpora Tawella. Locals alleged the security forces used explosives to demolish the houses after asking the inmates to leave the structures. The inmates refused to comment on the demolitions. However, locals said a mosque and a vehicle also suffered damages in these demolitions, which created huge bangs in the localities.

The demolished houses, including a three-storey and a single-storey residence, belonged to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists Adil Ahmad Thoker and Haroon Rashid Ganai. Ganai joined the LeT in 2018, officials said.

The action of the security forces came a day after a head constable was shot dead from close range in Anantnag.

J\&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha chaired a high-level security review meeting in Srinagar with senior officials from the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, civil administration, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and other security agencies.

For Amarnath Yatra

Officials said Mr. Sinha directed all departments and agencies “to maintain seamless coordination and ensure the safety, well-being and convenience of pilgrims undertaking the annual pilgrimage to the Amarnath cave shrine”. He instructed necessary measures “to address weather-related challenges”. The meeting focused on strengthening coordination among security and civil agencies, officials added.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah questioned the demolitions.

“Terrorism cannot be defeated through bulldozers or mass arrests alone. People are essential for restoring lasting peace. People are angry over the brutal killing of the police head constable. But when thousands of people are detained, that anger gets redirected. We must take our people along in this fight; only then will we succeed,” said Mr. Abdullah.

He was referring to the reports of detentions of over 2,500 locals by the J\&K Police in the aftermath of the terror attack in a major clampdown spread across 10 districts of the Kashmir valley.

On demolitions, Mr. Abdullah said: “Such actions go against the spirit of the SC’s directions. After the Pahalgam attack, several houses were demolished, but subsequent investigations revealed that no local resident was involved in the attack.”

Mr. Abdullah said the police’s anger was understandable “but demolishing homes and arresting a large number of individuals could exacerbate the situation”. “It would be beneficial to involve the community in such circumstances,” said Mr. Abdullah.

Former J\&K Chief minister and opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti said, “Detaining over a thousand people and demolishing the homes of families of two alleged militants amounts to collective punishment that has no place in a democracy. If the Government of India itself maintains that militancy has been reduced to near zero it must adopt a more humane and lawful approach towards innocent civilians instead of resorting to tit for tat for an entire community.”

Senior PDP leader Naeem Akhtar said the security forces’ actions “could qualify for the book of records”. “One murder, 2500 detentions, a couple home demolitions. At some crucial level, the belief is that every one of a particular demographic is disloyal, suspect and a potential threat,” said Mr. Akhtar.

Published - July 23, 2026 04:46 pm IST